From TIME for Kids:
TIME For Kids and KidsHealth.org were wondering: When it comes to health-related issues, how knowledgeable are kids? We conducted a survey to find out.
We asked more than 10,000 kids 21 questions about fitness, nutrition and healthy habits. Their answers impressed us. They showed that kids know a lot about staying healthy and that they want to learn even more.
"Kids have a really strong basis of health knowledge," says Dr. Mary Lou Gavin, a pediatrician and a medical editor for KidsHealth.org.
Your Health I.Q.
When it's time to select a snack or pick an activity, many kids would like to make a healthy choice. But to do that, they need information. In other words, when it comes to health, knowledge is power. That's good news, because it turns out that kids have a lot of health-related knowledge.
They are smart about nutrition. More than nine out of 10 kids are aware that water is a healthier drink than soda and that a plain potato is better for you than chips. About 88% of kids answered correctly that vitamin C makes an orange a healthy snack option. And nearly 85% know that the best way to get to a healthy weight is by exercising and eating a balanced diet.
Kids also scored high on questions about the body. Nine out of 10 know what a brain looks like. Just as many can tell you where the heart is located. And a similar number can identify which organ is most affected by smoking: the lungs. (Click here to test your Health I.Q.)
Healthy Habits
Does all of this knowledge lead to healthy habits? In many cases, it does. About 85% of kids read the nutrition facts on their food packages at least some of the time. Most kids (87%) say they would rather go outside and play than stay inside and watch a movie. Many (85%) are willing to try new fruits and vegetables too.
Health-smart kids know that staying well involves more than choosing nutritious food and being active. Dentists say it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Three out of four kids brush that much or more.
Hand washing matters too. More than four out of five kids say they wash their hands after using the bathroom. But only seven out of ten do so before they eat. This is one area where some kids could do better. "You don't want to be too obsessive about hand washing," Dr. Gavin told TFK. But it is important, she says, "particularly after going to the bathroom and before eating."
Goals for Good Health
When it comes to making positive changes, kids are up for the challenge. While about a third of kids described their health as excellent, most kids said their health is pretty good. "They're saying there is room for improvement," says Dr. Gavin.
Kids told us which goals they want help achieving. Learning how to cook is at the top of the list. Many kids would also like to get more exercise, eat better and learn to play new sports. How will you reach the health goals on your list? Asking for an adult's support is a great way to get started.
This survey was conducted online from March 28, 2011, to April 25, 2011, among a sample of 10,098 children ages 7-13. To learn more about the survey, visit kidshealth.org/healthsurvey.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Friday, 16 December 2011
Students Don’t Want Cellphones In Class: Survey
From Teaching Kids the News:
Recently, a survey was done to find out what highschool students think is important.
The survey was done by the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association. More than 2,600 students, mostly in Grade 12, were asked their opinions on many issues. The survey was done through Facebook and e-mail.
Here is what students said:
* Cellphones should not be allowed in the classroom. Less than one-third of all of the students surveyed said cellphones should be used in class as an educational tool.
* A bit more than half the students said physical education (gym) should not be mandatory (meaning you must take it) all through high school. Gym should be optional. In one area, near London, Ont., only about one third of students said gym should be mandatory.
* About half the students said they had been bullied in school.
* About half the students said they want school to begin later than 9 a.m.
* Most students said every high school and middle school should have a “student council,” which is a group of students who are elected by the other students, to run some things at the school.
* Most students said they would like to know what score they got on their standardized tests (for instance, the EQAO test).
The Ontario provincial government, lead by Dalton McGuinty, will be looking at this information. He wants to know what students think, and what they want, so he can make school better for kids.
Currently, many of the things the Ontario government does are different from what the students want. For instance, McGuinty thinks that cellphones should be used in classes, and that 20 minutes a day of physical education should be mandatory. Perhaps after seeing these results, he will change his policies.
Writing/Discussion Prompt
What suggestions would you make about improving school? Why do you think your suggestions would improve student learning and success?
Reading Prompt
The body of today’s article is in bullet point format. How do the bullet points help readers make sense of texts?
Recently, a survey was done to find out what highschool students think is important.
Here is what students said:
* Cellphones should not be allowed in the classroom. Less than one-third of all of the students surveyed said cellphones should be used in class as an educational tool.
* A bit more than half the students said physical education (gym) should not be mandatory (meaning you must take it) all through high school. Gym should be optional. In one area, near London, Ont., only about one third of students said gym should be mandatory.
* About half the students said they had been bullied in school.
* About half the students said they want school to begin later than 9 a.m.
* Most students said every high school and middle school should have a “student council,” which is a group of students who are elected by the other students, to run some things at the school.
* Most students said they would like to know what score they got on their standardized tests (for instance, the EQAO test).
The Ontario provincial government, lead by Dalton McGuinty, will be looking at this information. He wants to know what students think, and what they want, so he can make school better for kids.
Currently, many of the things the Ontario government does are different from what the students want. For instance, McGuinty thinks that cellphones should be used in classes, and that 20 minutes a day of physical education should be mandatory. Perhaps after seeing these results, he will change his policies.
Writing/Discussion Prompt
What suggestions would you make about improving school? Why do you think your suggestions would improve student learning and success?
Reading Prompt
The body of today’s article is in bullet point format. How do the bullet points help readers make sense of texts?
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Should Schools Ban Soda?
From Scholastic News:
To help kids follow a healthy diet, many schools throughout the United States have banned sugary drinks from vending machines and cafeterias. School and health officials hope that eliminating students’ access to the sweet beverages at school will reduce their taste for those drinks in general.
But just because a student can’t buy sugary drinks at his or her school doesn’t mean they won’t buy and drink them at home or outside school, says a new study on kids’ consumption of sodas, sports drinks, and other sugar-sweetened liquids.
The study followed 6,900 fifth- and eighth-graders in public schools from 40 states. Their schools had a mix of policies: Some banned all sugary drinks (including sports and fruit drinks), some restricted just soda, and some schools had no ban on sugary beverages at all.
Regardless of the school policy, students still purchased sugar-sweetened drinks outside of school. The study found that about 85 percent of students reported consuming sugary beverages at least once a week.
"The most [clear-cut] finding was that laws that focus on soda are just not getting it done,” study author Daniel Taber told The New York Times.
In other words, just banning sugary drinks from schools isn’t on its own going to make kids healthier. State and federal officials are now focusing on making school meals healthier.
Although it is fairly easy for the government to regulate student access to food and drink at school, getting parents and kids to take on an overall healthy diet is a bigger challenge. Lawmakers are even considering adding an extra tax on sugary beverages and junk food to try to make these foods less desirable.
But just because a student can’t buy sugary drinks at his or her school doesn’t mean they won’t buy and drink them at home or outside school, says a new study on kids’ consumption of sodas, sports drinks, and other sugar-sweetened liquids.
The study followed 6,900 fifth- and eighth-graders in public schools from 40 states. Their schools had a mix of policies: Some banned all sugary drinks (including sports and fruit drinks), some restricted just soda, and some schools had no ban on sugary beverages at all.
Regardless of the school policy, students still purchased sugar-sweetened drinks outside of school. The study found that about 85 percent of students reported consuming sugary beverages at least once a week.
"The most [clear-cut] finding was that laws that focus on soda are just not getting it done,” study author Daniel Taber told The New York Times.
In other words, just banning sugary drinks from schools isn’t on its own going to make kids healthier. State and federal officials are now focusing on making school meals healthier.
Although it is fairly easy for the government to regulate student access to food and drink at school, getting parents and kids to take on an overall healthy diet is a bigger challenge. Lawmakers are even considering adding an extra tax on sugary beverages and junk food to try to make these foods less desirable.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)